Environment Oregon’s Meiffren-Swango speaks up for plastic producer responsibility

When it comes to plastic pollution, shouldn’t the producers of that plastic take more responsibility? Environment Oregon State Director Celeste Meiffren-Swango certainly thinks so. 

On Feb. 23, Celeste testified before the Oregon Senate Committee on Energy and Environment in support of a bill to modernize Oregon’s recycling system. Currently, plastic producers in Oregon bear little burden for recycling costs in the state. Under the proposed bill, producers would share the costs of recycling systems with consumers. A shared responsibility model would move Oregon in the right direction on the path to zero waste. 

“A big reason why plastic pollution is on the rise is because producers are absolved of all responsibility for where their products end up, leaving you and me with limited choices when buying consumer goods and then footing the bill for managing the waste,” said Celeste. 

Environment Oregon is urging lawmakers to advance the producer responsibility bill.

Read more about Celeste’s testimony.

Learn more about our Wildlife Over Waste campaign.